Republican movement wanes amid royal revival

Support for an Australian republic has slumped to its lowest level in more than three decades just as royal enthusiasm reaches fever pitch over the arrival of the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge, William and Kate.

In a set-back for the long-struggling republican movement, once famously championed by Malcolm Turnbull, more than half of all Australians now believe the switch to a republic is unnecessary with 51 per cent opposing any such move and only 42 per cent backing it.

That's down from a high of 58 per cent in 1999 and represents the lowest pro-republican sentiment in 35 years.

The 42 per cent represents the lowest enthusiasm for a shift to a republic recorded by the Fairfax-Nielsen series since beforeKate or William were even born.

Catherine, the Duchess of Cambridge, and Prince William, the Duke of Cambridge, will arrive in Australia on Wednesday. Photo: Getty Images

Those in favour of keeping the British monarch as Australia's head of state account for over half of all voters at 51 per cent – the highest pro-monarchy sentiment in that period.

Support for a republic reached 57 per cent in the Fairfax-Nielsen series in 1999 – even after the referendum returned a no vote, and has been in incremental decline ever since.

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The uber-popular royal couple arrive in Australian today and will hold a series of public events as well as meetings with the Prime Minister Tony Abbott and Governor General, Sir Peter Cosgrove.

The glamour couple's keenly awaited tour coincides with a royal renaissance measurable in the return to archaic British titles in Australia and the lowest level of pro-republican sentiment in three decades.

A survey of public attitudes suggests our constitutional ties with Buckingham Palace have, if anything grown stronger with the passing of years.

A decade and a half after the republican movement fell short of its goal when a referendum on becoming a republic returned a no vote, less than half of all voters think it should be pursued at all.

Most notable is the collapse in support for a republic among younger Australians – usually the most change-oriented demographic.

Just 28 per cent of respondents aged between 18 and 24 years, backed the idea of an Australian head of state, whereas 60 per cent said no to the idea.

The stunning repudiation demonstrates the failure of the republican movement to promote an abstract idea of national governance against the barrage of favourable royal coverage, and a dominant celebrity culture.

It suggests the younger royals are viewed in a similar light to movie stars rather than as the hereditary members of a royal class from another country and another era.

Over 55s were the next most hostile to a change, with 51 per cent backing the no case.

InQueensland, monarchist sympathy is highest with 58 per cent in favour of maintaining the Queen as Australia's head of state. Only 37 per cent want that to change.

The gender split is interesting, too, with women far more inclined towards the royals than men.

Fifty-one per cent of men favour a republic, whereas 58 per cent of women want the status quo.

There is little comfort for republicans in the "don't know" category either. Just 7 per cent said they had no opinion when asked if Australia should become a republic – the lowest undecided figure since the 1999 referendum and second lowest since 1979.

Yet as Fairfax Media reported on Monday, Australians are not actually in favour of Prime Minister Tony Abbott's move last month to revive the titles of knight and dame. Just 35 per cent of respondents backed that move compared to 50 per cent against.

The picture becomes even murkier on the question of a republic at some time in the future, such as after the death of the Queen.

Asked which of three statements best described their position on the republic, 28 per cent said Australia should become a republic as soon as possible – down one point from the same question in 2010.

Thirty one per cent nominated the statement "Australia should become a republic only after Queen Elizabeth II's reign ends" – down three points since 2010.

However 35 per cent said "Australia should never become a republic" – up from 31 per cent in 2010.